Scripture Post #602: *WORK IT OUT*

Philippians 2:

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own. 

This Scripture was from Apostle Paul and Timotheus, to the Saints of Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons (Phil. 1:1).

Eph. 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

V. 9: "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

How do you "work out your own salvation" if you are saved by GOD's grace through faith in HIM, and not of yourself, it is a gift of GOD, not of *works*, lest any man should boast? If it's not of works that I'm saved, then how can I work out my own salvation? "Work out your own salvation" means: no one can make you be saved; you must make the decision yourself. GOD gives us free will. Salvation is a free gift, and GOD doesn't force you to accept it, you must accept the free gift yourself. It's kind of like this: Let's say I made some cookies, placed them nicely on a silver platter, and offered you one, saying, "Take a cookie; it's a free gift." It would be up to you, and you only, to accept my free cookie-gift. I'm not going to take the cookie, pry your mouth open, and ram the cookie down your gullet! Free gifts aren't forced or imposed on people; they're offered. And it's up to us to *WORK IT OUT* on our own—with proper fear and trembling, of course:

Matt. 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

And after salvation is worked out with fear and trembling, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13.)

Originally Published: Wed. 5/7/14